Oddities, Taxidermy Mold, Cat Head, Paper Mache, Early 20th Century

Cat Head Taxidermy Mold
American: Mid 20th Century
Paper mâché, with plastic teeth, interior of mouth hand painted
8 inches high
$250

Paper mâché cat head mold for taxidermy. When preparing a taxidermy specimen, while the skin dries out, the mold is prepared. Older methods of creating molds include wire frames and paper mâché, but polyurethane foam is the medium of choice these days. The molds are incredibly accurate and detailed, with muscles and veins carved into place. Clay is used for the tricky areas around the eyes. The skull is then removed. The real skull is discarded, and if it is an animal with antlers, those are then attached to the foam skull using screws after the skin is stretched over the glue-covered body mold. After sewing the skin shut around the mold, glass eyes are inserted into the sockets and the head is typically mounted onto a wooden plaque.